Labour suffers series of heavy defeats in St Helens local elections

Kenny Lomas

It was a night to forget for Labour in St Helens as the party suffered a series of heavy defeats.

Labour retained 10 seats but was crushed in Haydock by Green Party candidate David Van Der Burg and also lost Bold to the Greens, with David O’Keefe narrowly defeating Liberal Democrat candidate and former councillor Brian Spencer.

UKIP, which entered candidates in Billinge and Seneley Green, Moss Bank and Windle, failed to come close in any of the wards it contested.

Despite suffering a bloody nose, Labour has still maintained control of the council – although that was never in doubt due to only a third of the seats being up for election. Overall, Labour held 10 seats and lost four.

Deputy council leader Sue Murphy said the party will need to “reflect carefully” on the night’s results.

Coun Murphy said: “Whilst we recognise the concerns and frustrations of the borough, national issues have fatigued the public and we understand the widespread frustration with the wider system in general, together with a low turnout and a high number of protest votes.

“As a party in control of the council, Labour have been forced to take difficult decisions we would never have wanted to make to deliver £90 million worth of cuts imposed on us by central government.

“We will reflect carefully on tonight’s results but we need to remember whilst it is of course disappointing to lose seats and good colleagues, we have held the majority of seats across the borough, with our policies of fairness, jobs and fighting to protect the most vulnerable residents in our society from cuts to public services.

“Rest assured tomorrow Labour councillors will be back working for the people of the borough.”